This time, Arizona just didn't have enough.
Rebounds. Points. Depth. And magic.
It all added up to a 79-70 loss to host Washington in a crucial Pac-12 game among two of the conference's top-tier teams. The loss snapped a five-game win streak for Arizona, who is now 19-9 overall and 10-5 in the conference.
Call it a "Setback in Seattle."
The Wildcats were hoping for the win, which would have moved them into a first-place tie with UW and California. Instead, Arizona tumbles to fourth in the league.
Still, Arizona coach Sean Miller attempted to deliver optimism in his postgame comments. He told his team it returns home to face Southern California and UCLA this week with a chance to win its 20th game.
"A lot of goals are still within our reach," Miller said on his postgame radio show. "(Winning) would have been our silver lining. We tried to come in and do the best we can. Because it didn't happen, we can't all of a sudden come in and say, 'We're a disaster.' … It's about the process and building on what we've done."
Washington (19-8 overall, 12-3) just slowed the process in keeping the 'Cats from the victory. UA hit just 39 percent (22 of 52) from the floor. And although the numbers were quite similar, UW shot just 41 percent, but beat UA in rebounds (43-39), blocks (7-4) and steals (8-0).
Arizona just couldn't get past the Huskies, a team that arguably played its best game of the season. UW has won 10 of 12, and in doing so took over the game early in the second half when it jumped out to a 49-43 lead. After tying the game at 39-39 on the first possession of the second half, Arizona fell behind and could never re-take the advantage.
"You could tell they were the deeper, bigger, faster, stronger team," Miller said.
Miller pointed to the 42 points UW had near the basket off 20 offensive rebounds.
"In the second half, we just couldn't keep them off the glass," he said. "I give credit to Washington to taking their strength in place and taking it to us."
Arizona stayed within touching distance all afternoon but when it was down 71-61, it scored just two baskets in the final minutes, missing a number of three-pointers in the final two minutes.
Arizona also appeared tired. Since junior Kevin Parrom went down with a broken foot last month and sophomore guard Jordin Mayes suffered a stress reaction in his foot five games ago, UA has played consistently with a seven-man rotation. It did so again on Saturday. Miller said it's taken its toll. It hasn't helped that UA has played three consecutive weekends where it played late Thursday and early Saturday, as was the case against UW.
"It puts a lot of pressure on your team," Miller said. "That wasn't as big of a difference for us before, but now that we're only playing seven players, what I am starting to see is when you're playing guys 37 and 39 minutes it's just the law of basketball where in late February that freshness and quickness to the ball (isn't there). We really didn't have it."
It didn't help that UA was cold from the floor. Arizona missed its first eight three-pointers, finishing 6 for 21 from that distance. Factor in two of those coming in the final minute when the game was all but over.
Arizona did have four players in double figures scoring, but defensively they couldn't stop Washington's Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten. Ross had 25 points and Wroten had 22.
"The combination does that (beat up teams)," Miller said. "Not just to Arizona, but to everybody. They combined for almost 50 points. It wasn't like we weren't trying to guard them. They imposed their will on Senior Day."
Additionally, Miller said Arizona couldn't have more than 12 turnovers and hope to win. They finished with a dozen turnovers, which resulted in 14 UW points. In comparison, Washington had just six giveaways.
Arizona was led by Nick Johnson, who had 20 points.
The home team has now won 10 of the last 11 in this matchup, with Washington taking the season series for the first time since 2004. It was their biggest win over the Wildcats since a 75-66 victory in 2008 and the first game in the last four between the two that didn't come down to the final shot.
